Template-free hydrothermal synthesis of ;8;-molybdenum trioxide nanobelts and their photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue

摘要

Single crystal orthorhombic phase molybdenum trioxide (;8;-MoO₃) nanobelts with uniform width have been successfully prepared through a simple hydrothermal synthesis route at 180 0;C in the absence of any template, and are characterised using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The synthesised ;8;-MoO₃ nanobelts are grown along the c-axis direction. The ;8;-MoO₃ nanobelts for degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution exhibit high photocatalytic activity under UV light irradiation because of the large aspect ratio of ;8;-MoO₃ nanobelts. The photocatalytic activity loss of the catalyst is not obvious after five recycles.